Gathering Strength

This summer, UW Tacoma launched the Office of Indigenous Engagement, a dedicated space aimed at fostering connections, providing support, and expanding educational opportunities for Indigenous students throughout the region. Led by Leander Yazzie, Ed.D., UW Tacoma’s new Tribal Liaison, this initiative underscores the university’s commitment to inclusive spaces where Indigenous students can find community, explore cultural heritage, and experience impactful education.

“It’s very exciting,” said Yazzie on the creation of the new office. “It opens the door to overcome challenges and be creative as we move forward.”

Yazzie highlighted that building trust with younger generations within various tribes is essential for supporting their educational journey. “It takes some time to develop trust,” he said. “I see myself as a kickstarter, and someone who can work on gaining that trust over time.”

Yazzie’s focus is on connecting with the six tribes surrounding the university: Puyallup, Muckleshoot, Suquamish, Nisqually, Chehalis, and Squaxin Island. “But that doesn’t exclude other tribes,” Yazzie emphasized

Alexis Ozaawaashka Binesikwe Perez, a senior and the founding president of the Cedar Circle, an Indigenous-identity-based student organization. Perez, who is from Wisconsin, is a member of the Potawatomi and Ojibwe tribes. She is also a U.S. Navy veteran. Perez said being on UW Tacoma’s campus, which has several Indigenous faculty members, has been life-changing and is what drew her to the university.

Cedar Circle, which is advised by the Office of Indigenous Engagement, helps provide a space for Indigenous students to relate to and support each other. “It’s important that we have those spaces where they are welcomed and have their voice,” she says. “It has really been a great place for students to find resources, build networks and bring in Indigenous alumni with current students to talk about building relationships.” 

Perez said she is also working to do the same with Indigenous students who are veterans. “We’re really just trying to create cultural opportunities for students who might not be getting that need fulfilled, while also involving them in networking and outreach opportunities.”

An environmental sustainability major, Perez spent the past two summers working with the Muckleshoot Tribe on teaching traditional Tribal environmental practices to young people.

Creating a Space for Community 

Among the many benefits in the office is the Family Room located in West Coast Grocery. “It’s a place where Indigenous students can come and share the space to work on whatever they’d like, or just to gather and build community together,” Yazzie said.

While Yazzie is liaison for the Tribes, the office also includes a Native & Indigenous Success Specialist that works directly with students and advises nearly 130 Indigenous students both undergraduate and graduate. Ken Tuckfield, a UW Tacoma alum who came to the university after working with both the Nisqually and Puyallup Tribes, served in that role for the past year.

“A lot of native and indigenous students come from a very close-knit community,” Tuckfield said. “And it can be a challenge to come into an education environment where there is not a [Indigenous] community. A lot of the time students will be coming from Arizona or Montana, all parts of the country, and truly not have a community.” 

The Success Specialist also provides students a comfortable place to explore their own education path, as well as their identity as part of an indigenous group, and work with groups like the Center for American Indian and Indigenous Studies (CAIIS), located at the Seattle Campus with a branch in Tacoma. Together, the groups put on two monthly luncheons for Indigenous students. One of the gatherings allows students to discuss their experiences informally and a second luncheon uses funds to provide for a professor or student to do research and give a presentation on the work they’ve done.

Building Momentum

Perez said that momentum is building for bringing in and engaging Indigenous students, and she’s optimistic about growing programs and events. On November 22, the office will hold its annual Native & Indigenous Higher Education Symposium that brings together high school students from around the area to hear from indigenous scholars and learn more about the college experience. This year’s theme is “Gathering Strength: Reigniting Indigenous Community and Success.”

“The symposium will focus on elevating Indigenous scholars and scholarship here at UW Tacoma,” said Yazzie. “We’ll have different school districts here, as well as high school juniors and seniors. We look forward to welcoming educators and future students to experience the community we’re building here.”